Clip system for closing bags

ABSTRACT

The invention is designed to provide a closure for plastic bags for frequent or daily use. The invention comprises a V-shaped opening (A  FIG. 1 ) at one end, which continues into a circular opening (B  FIG. 1 ), and comprises a closure system at the opposite end, which joins the clip to the edge of the bag (C-D  FIG. 1 ) and which constitutes the inventive new feature. When closing the bag, twisting it in the usual manner ( FIG. 7 ) and folding the gathered end downwards, and said clip being on the edge thereof, the twist is to be received in the opening (B) of the plate ( FIG. 8 ). The twist remains held by both ends of the clip and the tension thereof prevents the bag from untwisting and opening. The system of securing the clip to the bag can be temporary or permanent, and can be a mechanical, chemical or physical system, or a system of any other nature that permits said securing.

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE

The present invention falls within the sector of the closure systems usually used (although not only) in plastic bags intended to contain and preserve products of frequent or daily consumption.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Nowadays many products are sold in plastic bags for their packaging and preservation during their consumption (foods such as breads or pastries, small pieces, etc.). One of the essential key to this conservation is the use of an adequate closure system that, in addition to being effective (to reduce the exposure of the content to the air or to facilitate its storage), is also comfortable for the user, who should open and close the bag numerous times during use. At present there are different solutions to such demand, such as plastic wires that are wrapped around the bag, plastic clips to prevent their opening once the bag is closed, zip closure systems, adhesive strips, etc. many of these systems, despite their widespread use, exhibit three important limitations to their daily use: (1) poor user agility, (2) limited closure ability and/or (3) the possibility of losing the closing. As an example, the extended plastified wire has the limitation 1, since it requires the consumer to unroll it to open the bag and then rewind it to close it again. this operation will require a time and effort that, although brief, will make that after its daily repetition many users stop using it and they simply opt to roll up the bag without employing the closing system. other systems, such as some clips on the market, do not have the limitation 1 as they are faster to handle, but do not guarantee adequate closure (limitation 2). Finally, most of the commercially extended closing systems are detached from the bag, which reduces the convenience of its use by being out of sight and even misplaced. The extreme case of this limitation is the report of numerous cases of accidental ingestion of certain types of fasteners frequently used, which has led to serious injuries of the digestive system and even death of the injured. However, existing inventions in the state of the art that are solidly attached to the bag prevent the clip from being lost, even though they exhibit the limitation 1 and therefore are not comfortable for the user.

Beyond the commercially available closure systems, there are inventions which are part of the state of the art and which offer solutions in the context of the proposed invention. The documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,912 A and U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,344 A show a closure system integrated to the bag which exhibits the limitations 1 and 2 since, on the one hand, the retention of the bag is made by entrapment of part of it, which requires some effort for insertion into the closure plate due to the narrowness of the aperture (16, FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,912 A). On the other hand the retention of the bag inserted in the closure plate is not sufficient to maintain the winding (FIG. 4), which will affect the quality of the closure and the tightness of the bag. U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,867 A shows a closure device similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,912 A but not integrated into the bag, therefore, together with the limitations 1 and 2 discussed above, the limitation 3 exhibits. Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,463 U the documents ES 225623 U and FR 1477737 A, with which it has significant similarities) shows a closing device for bags accompanied by a handle for the fastening thereof by the user, which must be pivoted whenever it is desired to close and open the bag (limitation 1) and is not attached to the bag itself (limitation 3).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This invention is designed to provide a reliable, swift, easy and safe bag closure, avoiding the previously exposed limitations of existing systems. The inventive novelty characterizing the present invention consists of a closure plate as an integral part of the clip which enables same to be attached to the bag in such a way that the closure by means of this clip prevents its opening by the tension derived from said closure.

Said invention consists of a plate (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) consisting of one end of a v-opening (a), by which it will be made the winding of the bag, which continues in a circular opening (b), where said winding will be housed. the opposite end of the plate consists of a folding tab with a hole (c) in which a pin engages the plate (d) itself. The clip is placed on the edge of the bag and the bag is inserted between the tab and the plate. When the tab is downed onto the plate and inserted through the pin, the edge of the bag is retained and the clip is attached to the bag itself.

Once the clip is attached temporarily or permanently to the edge of the bag (FIG. 6), the bag is closed by winding on itself the part of the bag between its contents and its open end, forming a winding and a crown containing said open end, which would leave the clip on the edge of the resulting crown (FIG. 7). The winding would then bend downwardly and pass through the opening (a) of the plate until it is housed in the hole (b) (FIG. 8). the tuft would then be retained by both ends of the clip, thus preventing, by the tension of the winding, that the bag unwinds and open.

The advantages of the present invention compared to other solutions present in the state of the art are: 1) firm and tight sealing of the bag as it is closed by winding and prevents, by the tension of the crown winding, that this is unwind. 2) Quick closing operation, faster than in wire-type systems, which guarantee a similar closing tightness and as fast or more than other commercially available and/or state-of-the-art commercial clip systems, which nevertheless provide lower sealability than the present invention. in fact the minimum distance from the opening (a) is such that it allows the winding of the bag to be easily introduced and withdrawn therefrom easily and quickly. 3) Comfort. Being the clip attached to the bag facilitates its use by preventing it from being lost and therefore always on hand. 4) Reuse, since the temporary fixing allows the use of the closing plate during the life of the bag and removing it for reuse in a new bag. 5) Security. When anchoring the clip to the bag it cannot fall in its interior next to the content, avoiding that it can be ingested accidentally. 6) Economics. The system presents the above advantages over other existing systems with a cost similar to that of the most economical ones.

One of the aspects conferred by this invention on the aforementioned advantages is that the closure plate is located on the edge of the bag. If this distance were significantly greater (see examples in the prior art) a section of the bag between the end of the plate containing the closure C-(D) or the permanent attachment zone (E) and the open end of the bag. This section of the bag would affect the advantage 1, since upon contacting said section with the bag part with the contents and once the bag is closed according to FIG. 8, there may be an additional outward tension which tends to expel the winding from the hole (B). In turn, it would affect the advantage 2 by hindering the closing process (FIGS. 7 and 8) by hindering the user in handling the closure plate to engage and unhook it to the winding, and to the advantage 4 since the presence of this bag section would hinder removable mechanical attachment, which would not be possible without affecting the bag structure (deformation) and/or its integrity (holes). These limitations would have a significant effect on the practical and commercial scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: perspective view of the clip with raised tab, annotated as follows:

-   -   a: opening in “v”.     -   b: circular hole.     -   c: perforated folding tab.     -   d: solidary pin to the plate.

FIG. 2: perspective view of the clip with downed tab.

FIG. 3: top view of the clip.

FIG. 4: side view of the clip with raised tab.

FIG. 5: side view of the clip with downed tab.

FIG. 6: clip attached to an open plastic bag.

FIG. 7: overrun of the bag to proceed to its closing.

FIG. 8: closing of the bag by the clip

FIG. 9: perspective view of the clip with side opening.

FIG. 10: perspective view of the permanent fixation clip (e) instead of the folding tab (c) and the pin (d).

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1.—Manufacturing a plate (plastic, resin, metal or any other suitable flexible material) as described and shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

2.—Design modification reorienting the opening in “V” (A) through which to insert the winding of the bag (FIG. 9).

3.—Design modification replaces the fixing bag closure disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for a temporary fixation of any type of clamp or clip, or by a permanent adhesive bonding, heat seal or other that allows the same purpose (region (E), FIG. 10).

4.—Design modification expanding or extending any part of the plate in any way that SAME does not affect its functionality (for example to include product details or advertising).

5.—Profile modification openings, including changes in forms (circular, star, rectangular, triangular, etc.).

6.—Any combination of the above embodiments. 

1. Clip system for the closure of bags intended to contain and preserve products of daily or frequent consumption, comprising a closure plate with a V-opening (A) at one end of the plate by which the winding will be inserted, winding being the part of the bag wrapped around itself comprised between the contents of the bag and the open end thereof, and which continues in a circular opening (B), where, once the bag is closed, said winding will be housed and characterized by a folding tab (C) located at the end of the plate opposite TO the end containing the ‘V’ opening (A) having an orifice in which fits a pin (D) solidary to the plate. The closure of the FOLDING TAB (C) over the edge of the bag by the FIT IN of the pin (D) in the TAB ORIFICE (C) ENABLES said end of the closure plate to be attached to the edge of the bag by a detachable fastening so that the part of the closure plate between the end of the plate containing the ‘V’ opening (A) and the limit of the tab (C) closest to said end is in the air and not on the bag.
 2. Clip system for the closure of bags intended to contain and preserve products of frequent or daily consumption, comprising a bag and a closing plate with a V-opening (A) at one end of the plate by which the (B) said winding will be housed, and IS characterized BECAUSE the bag has integrated the closure plate at its edge by means of a non-detachable fastening of any nature which allows said connection in such a way that, once the plate is fixed to the edge of the bag and with regards to the bag closing operation, the end of the plate containing the ‘V’ opening (A) is in the air and not on the bag. The closure plate has a zone (E) at the end opposite the end containing the ‘V’ opening (A) such said zone (E) will be treated chemically, physically, mechanically or by any other means enabling fixation, temporary or permanent, from the closing plate to the edge of the bag, either by chemical means (glue), physical (heat) or otherwise. In this way, the edge of the area (E) closest to the end of the plate containing the ‘V’ opening (A) should be located at a distance from the edge of the bag sufficiently small so as to allow/enable to fold the crown of the bag downwards , meaning by crown the portion of the bag remaining between the open end of the bag and the end of the winding closest thereto, and fit in the winding of the bag in the circular opening (B) of the plate the correct closing of the bag by means of the plate. 